Our school got a little bit of a facelift last week thanks to Westowne students and parents who cleaned up the front flower beds and redecorated the 5th grade bulletin board in the lobby. Thanks to your hard work, along with the many employees who have been getting it ready all summer, Westowne looks nearly set to welcome back faculty, staff, and students!PTA NewseScrip Online Mall

eScrip is the program Safeway stores and some restaurants use to donate funds to schools. It also offers an online mall that will give a percentage of each purchase to Westowne. Securely and easily register your Safeway card and the credit or debit cards you shop with. The next time you shop online, follow the link on our homepage to the online mall. A percentage of your purchase will then go toward educational enrichment, classroom support, and parental involvement for our children. You can even download the AutoEARN software so you can go directly to the online stores without the extra step.

And the next time you shop at Safeway, remember the change in their school funds program: purchases made with a credit card don't count, so consider using another form of payment like a debit card.

Corporate Donors​We are halfway to our goal of $2000 in corporate donations. If you own or work for a company interested in becoming a sponsor, let us know. We can take you step by step through the process. Being a Westowne PTA donor is advertising with an educational benefit.And thanks to our latest sponsors:

Teacher Welcome BrunchWe're welcoming the teachers and staff back to school with a yummy brunch on Tuesday, August 26th at 10:30. We'll be decorating the space with artwork and letters created by Westowne students. The theme is "How I spent my summer." Have your children create art and write letters, and then bring them in to Sneak a Peek. Contact us if you need an alternative way to turn in your child's contribution. Help us make this event memorable!

Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for a way to share your skills with Westowne? You can lend a hand for just a couple hours with an event. You can take over a task that takes planning from work or home. There are many ways you can help, so we created this list of volunteers. Please email us if you're interested in one of these jobs or another position.

Pajama Day Coordinator/s: On the last full Friday each month, the children get to wear pajamas to school and raise money for educational events like assemblies. We need a volunteer or two to make flyers each month and then collect and count the funds.

Movie Night Co-coordinator: During this fun event, we show a movie in our gym. Families are welcome and get to setup chairs and sleeping bags while watching a movie and eating snacks with friends. Our goal this year is to run four movie nights. We need someone who would like to help coordinate this event.

Box Tops Sweepstakes

Play this quick game up to 5 times per day to make sure your Box Top gets saved, and Westowne could win 5000 Bonus Box Tops. Or register and then let your kids play."Don't trash these dimes in disguise!" Send Box Tops to school in your child's folder.

Teachers’ Educational Supplies Fund

Did you know that 99.5% of all public school teachers spend some portion of their own money to do their job? According to a recent survey*, teachers spent an average of $485 out-of-pocket in 2013-2014. On average, this is how the money was spent: $149 bought school supplies$198 instructional materials$138 other classroom supplies

The Teachers’ Educational Supplies Fund is sponsored by Westowne PTA and is designed to help teachers buy instructional materials to enhance the curriculum. By helping the teachers, you’re helping your child learn.Please donate $10 per grade of your child/ren. Our goal is to raise $2250 so that all 45 of Westowne’s teachers can be given a $50 reimbursement for the purchase of educational materials and supplies. Donations can be sent in your child's folder or made at any PTA sponsored event.

It is also important to keep the classrooms well stocked with supplies: tissues, disinfectant wipes, dry-erase markers, glue sticks and more. These supplies are not provided by the county and teachers often do without or buy these items themselves. Your donations are important and appreciated. * from the 2013 Retail Market Awareness Study

School News

Sneak a PeekMonday, August 25th, from 3:00-4:00, visit Westowne's open house to meet your children's teachers and see their classrooms. Suggested Sneak a Peek to-do list:

Bring in "How I spent my summer" themed artwork and letters--which we will display the next morning at the teacher brunch

Bring in student and teacher supplies to lighten your child's first day load

Horseshoe CrabsMs. Getsinger's horseshoe crabs are back! They'll be starting back to school this fall along with our kids. Check out the blog: Green Initiatives at Westowne Elementary.Back to School NightsWestowne will host two Back to School Nights this year. These evenings focus on giving parents information about what to expect this school year. Mark your calendars:

Tuesday, September 2, 6:30-8:30 for 3rd - 5th grade

Tuesday, September 9, 6:30-8:30 for preschool - 2nd grade

School SuppliesStudent supply lists are available on Westowne Elementary 's website. The SchoolKidz orders have arrived. Stop by the school today, 8/21, to pick them up in the gym from 4:30-6:00. Mary will also have the orders available at Sneak a Peek, 8/25. If you are unable to pick up your order on either date, the supplies will be delivered to your child's homeroom.Thanks, Mary, for all your help with SchoolKidz!Community News

Back to School FestivalOn Saturday, August 23, from 12-4 p.m. at Security Square Mall, BCPS and Baltimore County government will once again sponsor the third annual Back to School Festival--featuring free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, immunizations, entertainment, and food for BCPS students and their parents. Please share this information with friends and neighbors.

Star-Spangled Spectacular

September 10-16, Baltimore celebrates the bicentennial of the penning of our national anthem with a free festival featuring star-studded concerts, history demonstrations, fireworks, and more.

School Supply DriveThe Westowne Area Community Group from Metanoia Church is gathering backpacks and school supplies for Westowne students who can't afford them. Kim and Mary are collecting supplies until this Sunday, August 24th. If you'd like to contribute, contact them. Here is their flyer for more information: